Evolution in early education

Researcher external pageRachel Schwagercall_made

The concept of evolution is a core concept of biology and its key for a fundamental understanding of the world around us. Due to its central importance for subject-specific content and its everyday relevance, the concept of evolution should be adequately addressed in classroom from early on. However, the high complexity of the theory of evolution coupled with prevalent naïve conceptions and misconceptions make the concept difficult to grasp. Moreover, inaccurate teaching materials may cause the emergence of or foster numerous misconceptions.

In this research project, we will compile a systematic review of known misconceptions and evaluate the effectiveness of proposed intervention methods. Based on this overview, we will develop and empirically test new instructional materials (storybooks), specifically covering the concept of adaptation by natural selection, for kindergarden and elementary school.